faderift | [open] exploration, study, and practice

Entry tags:

[open] exploration, study, and practice

WHO: Waver + Open
WHAT: Mucking about
WHEN: Month of Drakonis, contemporary timeline
WHERE: In and around Skyhold
NOTES: None

i. Woods around Skyhold
Months ago, Iskandar had talked to Waver about wanting to build a small place for himself in the area. While Waver had had concerns, like the shards, he also wasn't going to argue with having a little bit more private space. And so with melting snows and the promise of spring that came with longer days, he set out into the forests.

He was methodical as he went, relying on horseback to get to whatever area he wanted to focus on on a given day, and then spending hours on foot making notes on natural clearings, where snow naturally drifted, and where it seemed as if there were heavier animal tracks for the sake of hunting.

Waver didn't enjoy the wind and the cold, but he enjoyed the quiet around him, the challenge before him, and the fact that he was actually working outdoors without wheezing and panting like he might have been a few months ago. For better or for worse, Thedas forced him towards the physical, whereas his life in London had only been academic. Or else it was Iskandar making him do the same.

His work and his thoughts are coupled with keen ears that listen for anyone who might be approaching. Animals, he expects, and hopefully none of them predators.

ii. Library
With Merrill having approved of his general approach of creating course schedules for the Skyhold classrooms, Waver was now tweaking what he had come up with. He wanted to build in a break week at the end of every cycle, both for courses to catch up or for people to take missions, and besides, some complimentary course timings were an issue.

So he sat at a long table in the library, parchment cut into squares in one pile and a drawn up calendar in front of him. As he worked, each class was placed on the calendar, and the squares arranged then rearranged as he tried to find something that would be as close to ideal as possible.

There were mutterings of fuck every so often that snaked down the shelves, coupled with that won't work or else ugh.

But it kept him busy, and he loved the puzzle of it all. And as he worked, there was a pleased smile on his face, one that wouldn't go away even if interrupted.

iii. Training
In asking Iskandar what might be the best weapon for him to learn given that magic might not always be available to him, Waver had been told that knives would be an excellent option. And while most of that learning was done away from prying eyes, there was always the need to practice.

Today, Waver did that in a corner of one of the grounds within the fortress, taking advantage ofa dummy left aside by someone else who forgot to put the thing into proper equipment storage. The daylight was fading, and the area looked as if it would see no traffic.

His movements were faster than they were when he and Iskandar had started out. But with the two little practice knives Waver had, he did nothing but miss mark after mark. The issue he knew was that he was now working with a skinny little dummy, rather than a man who was as big as a house.

He gave it several more attempts before muttering, "Goddamnit."

That one knife also went flying from his hand escaped Waver's notice for a moment. When he realized his left hand had nothing in it, he then immediately let out another swear before starting a search. "Where did that thing go--"

iv. Wildcard
For anything not covered above

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"Noted for the future when I eat everything I've brought with me." Albeit Waver knew he'd be more likely to break a leg with that kind of a route, never mind refuse to take it during the colder months on principle.

At the description of the fox's usual routine, Waver finally gave in and cracked a smile. He can imagine it all rather easily, and the sight is both ridiculous and endearing in equal measure. "How often does that routine prove successful though? 40%? 50%?"

"That flurry is sort of the point," he said. "Even if we have to pause everything and then there's a bunch of new folks, we can give them a set time where they'll be entering into and progressing through the courses together. There's no need to play catch up in a class that might be well advanced."

As for his own career, Waver paused. He tended to be cautious about revealing his status as a mage back home, given well, Thedas. "My institution is a large university with a few hundred students at a time and a set number of years of attendance. While I'm mostly focused on contemporary theory, there are other more practical courses. Students are expected to have a certain level of balance in their studies, and there are multiple professors in departments. It is a big beast with a lot of moving parts."

For all of the old fashioned-ness of Clock Tower, they had at least adopted some contemporary trends. "I can't imagine a one-on-one ratio for that number of students."

That groan just makes Korrin grin in response, then she straightens. "Yeah, they can be. I just like to keep an eye on them to make sure that doesn't change. But anyway, I think these are done. Give me a moment to get some satchels so we can keep them separate. The last thing we need is to mix them up."

This is why normally Korrin advocates not bringing more than one type of grenade on the field at a time...but this is for experimentation, so they need more leeway.

Cole stands straight again, looking at Waver. "Now... you try. Just the same."

He stands where Waver can see and does the motions again. Slow, letting him see and copy.

"Hm. In the future, we should make a custom experiment crate with individual compartments." Waver's mind was thinking of a wooden egg carton, but there was no time to explain. Instead, he began to look for packing materials that could be use to pad the satchels out.

He went right back to the recently unpacked containers, and began to scoop the hay out of them. "Throw 'em over here when you have one. I'll line what I can."

"Got it."

Waver's memory was, in fact, fairly good. The issue was speed, as none of the movements were natural or well connected. It was if he paused to look at a photograph, did a part of the motion, then looked at the next photograph to complete the motion

Terrible form. But every step was remembered.

Cole doesn't notice that. Waver is working on it. Form will come with practice, he assumes.

"Now you do that for a long time. Until it feels natural."

Waver nodded.

"Repeated motion I can do. But nothing looked out of alignment?"

"I don't understand."

Cole... is not a good teacher. He never learned these things, though Cole did. He rocks on his feet.

"You just... do it until it feels smooth. Natural."

"Excellent idea. I'd be all for future experiments, just for the hell of it." Curiosity, boredom, a need to release pent-up issues by releasing a grenade at the same time...it's all good with her, as long as precautions are taken. At least she doesn't have to worry that all being on her shoulders with Waver, as he's sensible enough.

Having brought one of her own, she takes a moment to search and see what else can be made useful. A satchel filled with empty healing potions rests in one corner, and she carefully takes them out. They'll be back soon enough, so she's not worried about borrowing it for a little while. "Alright, got 'em! Here you go."

"If you like sweet things, get in with Burly." Burly is her favourite. Best thing about being part of the group that got the Tal-Vashoth chefs to come to Skyhold? They feed you extra things.

Laughing quietly enough so she doesn't disturb anyone else trying to get some actual work done, Araceli shakes her head. "I'd put it closer to sixty, he's had a lot of practice growing up where we did and as I did." To call Lux's situation unique sometimes feels like selling him short, but Araceli had never met another fox in the flesh until the little ones in Thedas.

"For some that must work, if there's a lot of instruction for learning all the same parts together. I cannot imagine it working for the climbing so well, but that's always going to be individual cases each time. Language and culture, maybe some of the alchemy or even the mounts." She's heard a bit about Korrin's lessons but that's pretty much a given for the two of them.

Eyes wide, she tries to imagine that but there's not really anywhere in Castileos that would be so large with the way things are. "So many? Not even the University of Orlais could boast so many I am sure, and they have changed in the past few years from what I have studied so far. I cannot imagine such a thing in my homeland, there the classes are smaller, or apprenticeships are how someone learns a craft or profession that requires a great deal more time and dedication than lessons alone.

"I had tutors in my girlhood, then when I left home I had more practical lessons from those who knew the ways of the world not found in their books."

"The flow of movement is awkward. But the movements themselves were close enough to what you demonstrated."

There's an undercurrent of apology for not clarifying what he meant.

Waver immediately began to shovel the hay into the satchel, padding it out so it would be open to it's fullest dimensions. He tried his best to make little compartment areas as well, although they were less thick walls and more thin hills that would probably rattle about regardless.

"Progress only happens with experimentation," he agreed, trying to smooth a few areas down for the sake of putting the grenades in. "Place them in and then I'll add in more padding."

"I'm generally for savory, but I have noticed that when I want proper afternoon tea, a sweeter scone craving hits. I'll keep an eye out." The kind of scone that might have candied peel, or else dried fruits and be topped off with sweetened cream. A luxury by any stretch of the imagination, even back home when students and departments demanded too much of Waver's time.

"That's a pretty good average, really," Waver grinned. "And I'm sure thick winter coats helped make him appear even fluffier and help out with things."

Actually, a coat that fluffy must've felt good about now. It was still cold most days, and Waver envied having that kind of constant insulation.

"Oh, absolutely," Waver agreed. "Although I conceed that climbing is deeply individualized and not suited for this kind of rotation. But then--" he shrugged. "We'll see if it works at all. I could be wasting my time for all I know."

But at least it was a good challenge. Waver missed those.

"I can't say I've investigated the university there, but can you give me an estimate of the student population?" He was genuinely intrigued by the idea. "Apprenticeships are mostly left to family-teaching-family within my institution - and family is key, don't get me wrong. Usually our students have been going through that most of their lives. But there's a lot of value placed on coming out of the university as well. I'd call it a societal marker for the rich and well off, but the less well off kids do genuinely benefit."

He smiled quietly at the mention of practical lessons. "I find that those I've taught that have had practical lessons do better."

"Oh, that's good then."

Cole might have just misinterpreted that.

"So, now you do that. Lots." And sadly... that's all there is to it in his mind. Practice until this is natural and then start to learn more.

Nodding, Korrin places them in the padded satchel will care. She does her best to fit them within those compartment areas, hoping to make them rattle as little as possible. After placing the last one, she steps back to let him continue.

"Go ahead, it'll be study enough for that now. I'll see about getting something for this set up ahead of time, so we can get straight to the best part."

Now that it was easier to see, he slid in closer to watch Waver work. It was all rather organized even if he couldn't actually tell what some of this stuff was. It was just a little bit beyond him, after all. Impressive though!

"Amazing. You have really found ways to have a purpose here too. I'm very impressed with you, boy!" While it was a small thing, it was helping in the long run. That lone made it vital in his eyes and he beamed at him proudly. "Show me what classes you are taking."

Waver decides just to go with it. Cole is an interesting figure, but perhaps with this little bit of information, Waver can rely on others for refinement.

"I think I can do that. Thank you."

Waver stood up slowly once he was satisfied with the compartments, and he had added additional padding. The only risk here was that he might smell for a month if any of these went off in transit. It was a fair enough risk.

"Sounds like a good plan for the future. I guess I should take up woodworking to try and be able to manufacture customized cases when we need them."

"It isn't really a purpose," Waver said with a shrug. This wasn't a downplay of accomplishments from his perspective - more an honest assessment about how he felt about where he was in Skyhold. "Just killing time."

But he pointed to a number of classes in quick succession. Cultural studies for the most part, to help get up to speed with the world he was in.

"Hm...I won't volunteer anyone by proxy, but I know someone who might be able to help with that. Her name's Nahariel and she's one of the Dalish elves. I've seen her woodwork before. Maybe she would accept some grenades as payment, once we've worked out the kinks." Or if there was something else she wanted, Korrin would see to it. Anything for her good friend, and Sina's clanmate.

"I'll look into it, or else have some trial and error adventures with wood working tools."

Waver liked the idea of the second more. It seemed a practical skill to have, and he needed to gain more of those.

"But for now, explosions."

"I hope it helps."

He hesitates. He feels like maybe he should do more. "I- I'm sorry I can't help more. I never... learned. I just knew."

"Don't be. This is good," Waver's voice is perfectly confident. After a moment, he goes so far as to extend a hand.

"Thank you."

Macarons are her downfall, personally speaking. Probably the reason she gets banned from the kitchen if the have to make a set number since all three chefs know she was a damned good thief back home and the temptation for tiny brightly coloured things is near impossible to resist.

"Don't remind me, before long he'll be shedding. We already have bearskin blankets, he even got one all to himself." Because she spoils him rotten of course. "I'd be surprised if people haven't already seen Korrin wearing him like a lady's stole about the place if she's feeling silly." The smile is even brighter this time though because she's seen it when she's had to go looking for one or, more commonly, both of them and they're entertaining someone that way. It's a pretty ridiculous sight all things considered.

"You're talking to someone who doesn't even have a sleep schedule though," Araceli concedes since the routines of others benefit her as much as her own lazily defined one benefits her. "I can see a lot of people who were Circle mages or even Templars being interested. People with routines that always had routines? They find that hard to break."

With a quiet sigh, she finds a chair since she needs to rack her brain here, looking up and away for a few moments to try to remember it once she's seated. "The largest in Thedas, I am certain of that but there are many restrictions on who can attend as you can expect for a place like Thedas. Even before Empress Celene came to power it was considered something of a place to send those who didn't have a prospect the same as other siblings in a family might, and the Chantry would take the greatest minds that could be found there. She elevated education and arts within Orlais far more than those before her. Elves were even sponsored to enter though…" Trailing off, a flicker of anger and disappointment passes over Araceli's face. "Well, given how terribly elves are treated, I am sure you can imagine."

The things Araceli had heard about things students had been asked to write about elves still make her feel sick.

"My homeland is a nation of sailors, many things can only be taught by being alongside an experienced hand. For a lot of people who weren't born to a noble family or merchants? It's the best way to make a life for yourself from a young age so you don't need to choose between a roof over your head or food on the table." It should never have to be a choice, and even if she has the skills to hide it, she never bothers to disguise her bitterness over that fact unless she's working with nobles to get something done.

"Ah, yes. The joys of having to clean up animal fur during the shedding seasons. Goodness knows I can see the tell-tale signs on my colleagues, and it is even more reliable than when greenery pokes up through the snow." The mental image of Korrin wearing a living stole causes a sharp bark of laughter. "Please, please tell me that has happened before, so I can get my hopes up that it might happen again."

The notion of no schedule fits with the sort of personality Waver's read off of Araceli so far. So he nods rather than say anything on it, as it is a personal preference with zero consequences as far as he's concerned. Not everything worked for everyone, Waver knew that.

"Mm. That developmental track is close enough to how universities evolved back home, including the poorer treatment of minorities." It isn't worth clarifying that there's no elves in England. Kind of besides the point. "We use examinations to admit rather than other restrictions, but that hardly makes the enterprise democratic. Families with prestige subvert everything easily." Of course, that was also because the politics of magi and the Clock Tower were one in the same most days, but to complain about that was to complain about the sky being blue.

"Apprenticeships are common in some parts of home, but for--" for magi. "My line of work has bizarre baggage for centuries of reasons, and to be considered good at what you do means you have to play politics. To play politics, it is generally advised that you study where I'm instructing. It is, in short, a complete mess."

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[open] exploration, study, and practice

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